WELCOME TO MAH BLOG

Some people think I'm bonkers

2010-05-27T14:25:00.000-07:00

...but I just think I'm free! :p

I love this song, I also love the effects used in the 'mini planet' video used as the background. Mini planets aren't new, but in video I would say they are. I have made my own my own Mini Planet before in the past, and it would seem the effect is just as easy in Photoshop as it is in video, sans rendering. A couple of weeks back I found a link to a blog by the company of whom made said video. The company is Digital Immersion who are a French company who specialise in immersive video. (You know when there's a 360º flash object on a holiday website or a landmarks website? That kinda stuff.) But this they then made into a video. The basics of it is you take a panoramic image (in this case a video) and then make it into a square size. (so if it's 2000 x 500, it will become 500 x 500) You then rotate it round a polar point (I think...) and it comes out as a mini world. The only problem being the middle as it's where everything from the bottom of the clips merge into one point, but this is not seen in Dizzees video as he is dancing in that spot. :)

I'd love to do this kinda thing, but a 360 camera is very expensive, unless I can get access to a Google Street View car. :)

Simple visual effects are sometimes the most effective

2010-05-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

This video really inspires me when it comes to simple, yet effective visual effects. The only real effects used are the large heads of the band members, but for weeks now I have been wondering how they have done it.

At first I thought it might of simply been enlarging the heads of the characters, but then I noticed things like shadows and lighting don't 100% match their surroundings, although it is well done. Also, there is no masking that would make the edge of their faces bleed out and show some background (Also, that would be a monster of a job frame-by-fram masking them.) So my other thought into it was they green screened the actors and simply keyed it out. They then might of tracked onto the eyes or had the band members wearing a tracking hat and then plonked the faces on. Either way, it's something I would love to try and do in the future. I have a thing for large headed images, but in video it's not something I have seen too much before. I shall try this at some point I hope! :)

Website.

2010-04-29T01:37:00.000-07:00

I've kinda gone round the houses with this. I do like my current one but felt it needed replacing for the PPD project. I tried something (see below) which I wasn't best fond off, then I tried another more basic idea which I went off really quickly and went back to my 2nd idea. NOW, I think all I need to do is fix my current website, update a few design features and add all my content.

Talk about long winded!

But, the trip has made me realize that what I currently have is the best website design and layout I have made to date. It's all built on Wordpress, which for me is a reet feet in my skills as I am a Wordpress newb. I have Sam on hand for any WP problems I have and usually she is able to point out/sort the problem really quickly which is better than me running around for days trying to find a solution.

So yeah, website wise I am sticking with what I got once it's fixed and update. :) I like it, it's pretty and it's also nice to navigate with some hidden funny parts. :)

Places, people, etc.

2010-04-10T11:08:00.000-07:00

So of late I've been hunting out companies I would potentially apply for to work at. The list is as follows:

*I SHALL EDIT THIS POST AS I GO ALONG, SAVES MAKING MULTIPLE POSTS*

-MOTUS-
Web: http://www.motus.tv/
Tel: 01132 829924

These guys do editing, postproduction and graphics. At first I thought they meant graphics like 2D imagery, but have since learnt that it's moving graphics such as titles, animations or logos for a film and such. Their website is funky as hell too! :)

Motus themselves on their website say if you want to find out more about us or pop in for a brew then they'd love to hear from ya. Although, I would guess this is more aimed at a client rather than a prospective co-worker.

-ILM-
Web: http://www.ilm.com/
Tel: hard to find

Everyones favorite visual effects studio HAS to go on my list just as Pixar went on my list when I wanted to get into 3D. Their are the pinnicle, the Gods, the overlords of their field and it shows by the quality of the work they come out with. I'm sure you've seen Star Wars, Transformers etc etc, so you know they can do their shiz!

The only real way I could approach ILM would be through their careers channel or emailing someone. As I don't live around the corner exactly, just turning up to be rejected is pretty expensive when a flight cost's more than what I could get paid a month by more employers over here, lol.

-Hamlyn Spyke Productions-
Web: http://hamlynspyke.blogspot.com/ or http://www.hamlynspyke.co.uk (Doesn't work 3rd May)
Tel: ---

After a little Googling I came across this company based in Leeds. I've not heard of them before, noor does it seem that they have a website! But, I found a blog which seems to be theres and there aren't very many post's. Their also from 3 years ago! Soo... I think I'll skip this one, but still put them here to show I have done some digging.

-Giant Leap Productions-
Web: http://www.giantleapproductions.co.uk/
Tel: 01924 287522

Giant Leap Productions seem like a pretty small company based in Wakefield. But their work is very high standard. They do quite a bit of promotional based stuff along with other types of films. Their blog hasn't been updated for the best part of a year now, so if that's an indication of if their still going or not... I'm not too sure.

As their not to far away I'd probably email them and ask if I could pop down and have a chat and see what's what. From there I'd ask a couple of questions on how to be part of their group, and if the opportunity arose, jump in with the blatant GIMME A JOB style line. :D

-Glassland Media-
Web: http://www.glasslandmedia.com/
Tel: 08458388609

Another Leed's based company again. Glassland are a video production company based in the city center. It's amazing really, I've walked past there sooo many times but never been down that street! (Right opposite the new Leeds Met building, between Morrisons and Dry Dock.) They too do a lot of education and promotional based work, along with some viral footage. What's good is that I have seen that viral video they have made a while ago, so it shows that they can do their job if I've seen it randomly, hehe.

Much like above, I'd probably get in contact with them first and see if I can come down. If so, I'll bob in and have a friendly chat and see if they would hire me, lol. No gimmicks really.

-Digiwall Media-
Web: http://www.digiwallmedia.com/
Tel: 01133 792890

Out of all the place's I've found so far, Digiwall have the most basic website of them all, which isn't really a good start when your expecting a company in this industry to have something a bit more flamboyant. Digiwall Media are, again, based in Leeds and do post production work only(?) I think. They do a variety of different things from Viral to Corporate work and their finished products are pretty good. They also have a couple of music videos on their clips page, so I would assume they do them too.

-Skyreach Media-
Web: http://www.skyreachmedia.co.uk/
Tel: 0113 2301957

If you were to take me, turn me into a company and do lots of work, that would be Skyreach Media. They do a whole host of stuff from websites to video production, from VLE and educational tools to visual effects. (But obviously, their at the top of their game in each section, where as I just dable in various other things.) And their not too far away either, a bit further out than all the rest who seem to be based in the city center.

With these guys I would take a slightly different approach in contacting them. I would put more emphasis on my website and get them to have a look at it, and also put a post up which is dedicated to them. Kinda to show them that I am into most of the same stuff, but still focus on my main professional sector. Then, hope the magic works.

Webbie web web web.

2010-03-22T14:45:00.000-07:00

So today I was directed towards this article by a friend. And I love every word spoken in it.

Elliot Jay Stocks is a man who I envy due to his lovely website. It's one that since I was shown it, I have loved and wanted to 'make something like it' for my own website. Especially his massive search bar. :)

He talks about a lot in this article, and although I am not going to go and pick parts out of it now, I thought I best buck up and start to talk about the little things I read or do, as I seem to just read things and not act on them a lot lately.

Adios amigos.

Personal Statement

2010-03-20T06:49:00.000-07:00

Bit late but here it is!

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Since I was a young boy, visual effects were something that really struck me as something amazing – so amazing that I wanted to learn how to do. But, it wasn’t something I thought I could achieve, so it wasn’t very prominent in my mind. My path towards this career has been somewhat all over the place. My initial studying too place in college partaking in Software Development. All while I was undertaking that course I was learning how to create 3D objects and environments in my spare time, which lead me into University. It was here that I realised that 3D modelling and animation wasn’t the career path I hoped it would be and since then shifted my professional practice over to moving image.

Since then, I have become skilled with programs such as Final Cut Pro, Adobe After Effects and also know of other programs such as Motion. I also have extensive knowledge of Adobe Photoshop of which has helped me with nearly every video project I undertake. I have used Photoshop for 5 years, After Effects and Final Cut Pro for the past 3 years and various other programs such as 3Ds MAX and Maya on and off for short periods of time. I do however know what sort of effects and props can be constructed in 3D space and composited into moving image productions and create them but at a very basic level.

I decided to solely concentrate on the moving image side because I found I had far more of a flair and more control over what I was outputting in general with video. Although my 3D skills were completely self-taught through tutorials or having ‘buddies’ online who would work on projects along side me, being physically taught and motivated with video work can’t beat the staleness in which my 3D had become.

My visual effects extend out into the real world for when it comes to prop creation, concepts and ideas. In the long run I would like to one day be operating or construction something on the scale of the Dinosaurs from Jurassic Park, but this is purely wishful thinking. In the past I have been able to scout out props for video projects and also create my own out of odd ends and specific pieces. My most notable prop to date is an RPG for my final video project at University. From just a reference picture and knowledge of the weapon from various video games, I have been able to construct not an exact replica but something that would turn heads and is believable to be real.

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What I want to achieve

2010-03-02T12:50:00.000-08:00

So for PPD, I thought if I was to list the stuff I want to do, I will have some goals to meet.

Here comes a list! :p

Website - Mine is currently down and I am forever changing the layout after a couple of months. I want to produce something I will keep for a long while without feeling it needs to be updated.

Demo Reel - If I want to get into the moving image industry, this part is pretty standard. Finding all my wold work, however, will be a challenge in itself.

InkedIn Profile - This is another listed part in the brief. I've had a LinkedIn profile for a while now, but not been on or, to be honest, know how to use it. I think this need to be brushed up, up to date and filled in correctly!

YouTube layout - To match my website with my YouTube page, I think a skin is in order. This way people wont be too distracted by the difference in layout and also it will show off more of my working abilities.

Business Cards - Again, should be done along with my demo reel. This needs planning.

CV - I have various versions of normal CV's floating about on hard drives somewhere but not a professional one. Nothing that says I do moving image work and my degrees. This, needs making!

Logo - You cant really state who you are in this day and age without a memorable logo. That too can become a statement in itself.. Nike and McDonalds for instance rarely need to say their name when their logo is shown.

Personal statement - This is part one of the brief, and rather simple. I think when I come to do my CV I shall work on this.

List of potential employers - Like last year, we have to compile a realistic list of potential employers of whom would want me on their team. (If your reading this and have a job free... get in contact. :) )

List of meets/festivals - I think I remember this being mentioned somewhere, so I will do it. xD I will try and attend more conferences, meet ups, networking events and all that stuff. The only problem with them is some cost money, and money is one thing I rarely have much of. If I can get to some, I will.

Build a network - I already have several people of whom I can call upon depending on the need of what needs doing. But none are professional, their all mainly mates who are very good or successful in their field. I would guess that these too are 'professionals'. This is more of a desirable thing to do, not a necessity.

Well now I wrote that all down I feel a bit clearer about what I need to do. Also, gives me a chance to manage my time a bit and work on it all.

Adios amigos.

The layout remains

2010-03-02T10:35:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of blogage. If I am totally honest I've had the world's most muffed up sleeping pattern of late so I've been awake during the night and sleeping in the day. Night work would be a cinch, but daytime normalities has kinda gone haywire.

Anyway, with my PPD I should start sooner rather than later as I've left it long enough.

In my last blog I showed the world the layout I was going for. After looking at many websites I still want to keep the design I have. But I want to make it flow between sections. One big turn-off I have noticed is website were they mix the theme up and it looks a bit cack. I want to keep one theme throughout and each section mingles just as well with the next.

So some ideas I have been floating around in my head is a shelf. Each shelf contains different items in my website, picture frames for pictures, a small screen or digital picture frame for videos, and the likes. Another idea is something to do with a computer and a desk, another was a fridge with bits being held on with magnets and so on.

I've not got any doodles for these ideas, unless I really like an idea I wont sketch it down. I like sketching websites, lets me see how it could possibly look when done. If I start to photoshop it I get too over my head and do things wrong.

I think one thing I have come across that I like is of a floor/road/pavement. There are lots of elements you see on the road which can work well together. IE, a street artist can draw pictures in the floor with chalk, this can be my pictures section, and so on. It sounds better in my head.

I've also though of an idea for my showreel. Inspired by a random video I was linked too on vimeo. Wether or not he intended this... his end credits with his name, contact information and stuff like that, all ended up looking like a business card. Although, his was just White text on a Black background, I had an idea to have my business card build itself in the viddeo a bit like how the logo in Crash Bandicoot 3 is made.

I shall show you:

The end of this video to me looks like a business card.

0:33 seconds in. The logo is compiled.

So, bringing them together, I should in theory be able to nail 2 birds with one stone. Both my business card and finish off my video.

Just an idea.

Welcome, internet userz.

2010-02-02T08:36:00.000-08:00

So, this marks my new blog. This URL, how ever is only temporary until I create my website once again (Over at http://www.rockbigdave.co.uk/ )

This blog is going to hold the key to my success! Well, my research and development for my PPD3 module at Uni. This includes my website build, so you will see lots about it here. :D

And, my first post... About my website! :D

So the main thing I want to do with this website is really stand out from the others. There are many ways too do this I have seen after browsing many, many CSS Galleries and the ones that stick out are horizontal scrolling websites, one page websites, quirky design websites and also rather interactive websites. Anything you see on somewhere like... http://www.csselite.com/ is inspiring to the upmost level I could every try to explain on here. It just.. shows me what I already knew was possible and more!

I have delegated the coding to someone who knows their shiz when it comes to code, though. Instead of myself trying to code it up like I did with my last theme/layout, I'd rather design it as I am a designer and then let an experienced coder slap it together. :)

It's going to be Wordpress again like my last website for 2 reasons. 1: I really like the platform it offers as a whole, and 2: I spent enough time asking my mate Mark (Who he and I share server space) to get everything installed so WP can be installed, I'd feel a bit heartless if I was to change over to something else now. :)

That aside, I need a layout and a theme. One of which I do believe I have sorted. :) I have opted for a one page design. Much like WeBleedDesign and AttackOfTheWeb. I reallllly like the styles that this layout can adopt. It also is very free in the way you can layout the website, I find when I do website designs I do a homepage, blog, portfolio, contact/about page and links. It would seem I am oldskool and this is no longer some sort of standard. It probably wasn't ever standard, but I used it as default for my designs as so many other people had it like that. Anyway, one page it is and I have kinda come up with a rough layout of how I want the sections to be. As illustrated below:

The colours are just so things stand out, by the way, lol.

SO that's my idea so far. Just throwing more things around before I even think about finalising this. Sizes and stuff too are not 100% certain yet, I want to do some mock ups before I dedicate myself to anything.